Flush valve



June 8, 1937. r H. P. BALLOU 2,083,485

FLUSH VALVE Filed Deo. 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JMM/ 29M' Attorneys `lune 8, 1937.

H. P. BALLOU 2,083,486

FLUSH VALVE Filed Deo. 8, 1956 2l sheets-sheet z Attorneys Patented June 8, 1937 UNIE STATES j aalst `PATENT MCE of fifty per cent to Nan Griith ford, Conn.

Hynes, Hart- Application December 8, 1936, Serial No. 114,853

4 Claims.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in ush valves for toilets and has for its primary object to provide, in a manner asV hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction and arrangement through the medium' of which the closing of the valve will be hydraulically controlled.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide a toilet ilush valve of the afore-k mentioned character wherein the closing thereof will occur while a predetermined quantity of Water is still in the tank thereby assuring comparatively quiet operation.

Still another very important object of the invention is to provide a toilet flush valve of the character described embodying a novel construction of valve member whereby leakage Will be positively prevented when said member is seated.

A still further important object ofthe invention is to provide a flush valve for toilets which may be expeditiously installed for operation in flush tanks without the necessity of materially altering said tanks.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a ush valve for toilets which will be comparatively simple in construction, strong, durable, highly efficient and reliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure l is a view in side elevation 0f a lush valve constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation thereof.

Figure 3 is a view principally in vertical section, taken substantially on the line 3--3V of Fig. 2.

Figure 4 is a View in vertical section through the cylinder, showing the piston mounted therein.

Figure 5 is a detail view in plan of the clamp which is mounted on the outlet pipe of the flush tank.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates an outlet pipe to the bowl (not shown), said outlet pipe entering the flush tank through the bottom 2 thereof. In its upper end portion the pipe I is formed to provide a seat 3. A ange 4 is formed on the upper end portion of the pipe I, said flange having formed therein a channel 5.

The reference numeral i5 designates a substantially U-shaped clamp which is mounted in the Vchannel 5, said clamp being secured in position through the medium of a vset screw 1. Mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the clamp 6 is an angular lever 8, said lever being substantially square in cross section. The free endv of the lever 8V is connected by a rod 9 to the usual hand operated lever (not shown) of the flush tank.

' Rigidly secured beneath the lever 8 for engagement on the seat 3 'is aV valve member which is'designated generally by the reference numeral Ill. The valve member l0 includes a bowl II of suitable material having a centrally located opening I2 therein, said bowl being secured to the lever 8 by screws I 3. The upper portion ofthe bowl II has formed thereon an external ange Ill having a groove I5'therein. It will be noted that the lower wall of the groove l5 is bevelled. Reference numeral i6 designates a cushion of suitable resilient material, preferably rubber, which is mounted beneath the Vbowl I I and which has its marginal portion secured in the groove I5 by a'suitable clamp i7. It will be noted thatr the cushion i6 extends from the lower portion of the bowl II to the periphery of the ange I4 in amanner to provide, in conjunction with said bowl, a pocket orchamber I8. As illustrated to advantage in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the construction and arrangement is such that the cushion I6 contacts the lseat 3 at a point where said cushion is spaced from or free of the bowl II.

The referencefnumeral l designates an arm which is mounted horizontally on an upper portion of the usual overflow pipe Ztl of the ush tank through" the medium of a suitable clamp ZI Pivotally mounted for swinging movement in Va vertical plane on the free endof the arm I 9 is a cylinder 22 which is open at its top. The bottom 23 of the cylinder 22 (see Fig. 4) has formed therein a centrally located water outlet opening 24. Mounted for reciprocation in the cylinder 22 is a piston 25 which is connected by a rod 26 to the lever B. The rod 2t enters the cylinder 22 through the opening 2&3 in the bottom 23 thereof, said opening being of a greater diameter than said rod. In its upper portion, the cylinder 22 is provided with ciroumierentially extending openings 27 which, in addition to admitting water, break the partial vacuum Aor suction created in said cylinder by the piston 25 as said piston passes said openings in its upward movement or stroke. Y

It is thought that the operation of the invention will be readily apparent from a considerationof the foregoing. When the toilet is to be flushed, the lever 8 is swung upwardly for disengaging the valve member I0 from the seat 3 thus permitting the water toV flow from the tank through the pipe I. As the lever 8 is thus swung upwardly, the piston 25 is moved upwardly in the cylinder 22 creating a suction or partial vacuum in said cylinder and drawing a certain quantity of water thereinto through the opening 24. The pivotal mounting of the cylinder 22y on the arm YI9 permits said cylinder to readily adjust itself to meet various conditions in addition to compensating for the arc described by the swinging lever 8. As the piston 25 passes the openings 21 in its upward movement the suction or partial vacuum is broken and water rushes into said cylinder through said openings 21. When the lever 8 is released, said lever, with the valve member Ill, begins to move toward closed position by gravity. After the piston 25 passes the openings 21 on its downward stroke the water is trapped in the cylinder 22 and can'only escape through the restricted opening 24 thereby assuring a slow but steady and positive closing of the valve. The speed at which the valve closes will be governed by the size of the opening 24. Further, the construction and arrangement is such that the valve will be fully closed before the water in the flush tank drops to the level of the upper end of the outlet pipe I'. The chamber or pocket I8 in the valve member I0 permitsthe cushion I5 to readily yield when it contacts the seat 3 to assure positive closing at all times.

It is believed that the many advantages of a flush valve constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understoodand although a preferred embodiment of the device is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve for flush tanks comprising an outlet Y pipe extending into a flush tank through the bottom thereof, aseat in the upper end portion of said outlet pipe, an extern-al flange on said upper end portion of said outlet pipe, said flange having a circumferential channel therein, a substantially U-shaped clamp engaged in the channel, a Vset screw threadedly mounted in one portion of the clamp and engaged in the channel for securing said clamp therein, an angular lever Vpivotally mounted on the clamp, a valve member mounted on said lever and engageable on the seat, and means for Aactuating the lever.

2. A flush valve comprising a seat, and a valve member engageable on said seat, said valve member including a bowl comprising an external flange on its upper portion having a circumferential groove therein, and a cushion mounted beneath the bowl and extending over the flange and secured in the groove, said cushion being adapted for contact-with the seat and, in conthe seat, the last named means including a cyl-4 inder open at one end and closed at its other end,-the closed end of said cylinder having a port therein, said cylinder having openings. in the wallsthereof, a piston mounted for reciproca tion in the cylinder, and a rod connecting the piston to the lever,rsaid rod passing through the port, said piston constituting means for drawing a fluid into the cylinder when the valve is opened and for expelling said fluid from said cylinder when the valve is closed.

4. In combination with a flush tank including an overflow pipe, a Water outlet pipe extending intolthe tank through the bottom thereof, a seat in the upper end portion of said outlet pipe, an external flange on the upper end of the outlet pipe having a circumferential channel therein, a substantially U-shaped clamp secured in the channel, an angular lever pivotally mounted on the clamp for swinging movement in a vertical plane, a-valve member mounted on said lever and engageable on the seat, means for raising the lever for lifting the valve member off the seat, an arm projecting horizont-ally from the overflow pipe, a cylinder mounted for swinging movement in a vertical plane on the free end of said arm,

said cylinder being open at one end and closed atV its other end, said cylinder having a port in its closed end and further having openings in its walls. adjacent its open end, a piston operable in the cylinder, and a rod extending through they port and connecting saidpiston to the lever, the

cylinder being adapted for the reception of water from the flush tank, the piston being controlled by the water in the cylinder for controlling the movement of the valve member toward closed position.

HOLDEN PHILLIP BALLOU. 

